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Pik Botha

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Roelof Frederik "Pik" Botha (1932-2018) was a South African politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1994, making him the longest-serving foreign minister in the country's history. He represented the National Party during the apartheid era and was known for a relatively more reformist stance within the government, acknowledging the need for changes to the apartheid system. Botha participated in negotiations to end apartheid and transition South Africa to multiracial democracy, remaining in office during Nelson Mandela's presidency as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs until 1996.

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Who was Pik Botha?

Roelof Frederik Pik Botha was a South African politician and diplomat who lived from 1932 to 2018. He represented the National Party during the apartheid era.

How long was Pik Botha South Africa's foreign minister?

He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1977 until 1994. That made him the longest-serving foreign minister in South African history.

What political period did Pik Botha serve through?

Botha held the foreign-affairs post during the later apartheid years and the transition to democratic rule. His tenure ended in 1994, the year South Africa held its first multiracial national election.

Why is Pik Botha important in South African diplomatic history?

His unusually long 1977 to 1994 tenure placed him at the center of South Africa's international relations during a major political transition. He was one of the most recognizable National Party diplomats of that period.